Child pulled into water by alligator near Grand Floridian

[Opie100]

Not sure. They for sure have been spotted in the Magic Kingdom at Splash and Tom Sawyer Island.

Here's a thread from seven years ago - http://www.disboards.com/threads/man-almost-attacked-by-alligator-in-seven-seas-lagoon.2190532/

I wonder if this concern has crossed the mind of operations before. It must have.

 

[momtotnt]

Floridians know that all bodies of water should always be treated as if it were to contain an alligator or a snake because it's highly likely. I wonder if there are signs there for tourists?
So sad for this family & for Orlando as a whole this week. My goodness.

 

[Steffiesunshine]

Not sure. They for sure have been spotted in the Magic Kingdom at Splash and Tom Sawyer Island.

Hard to know facts right now. Orlando Sentinel is saying it was a little boy.

I hope WDW will now catch and transport those gators elsewhere. I'd imagine they should take steps to search any property lake for them as well. I KNOW it's Florida, and swampland, but they have to stop this from happening again. I'm legitimately scared about my upcoming visit.

 

[Johnnie Fedora]

Helicopter is still circling around the resort and has been since before the fireworks show. We just returned to the Poly at 10pm. I figured they were looking for someone in the water based on where the copter was shining the spotlight. During the fireworks a young adult man was being wheeled away on a stretcher through the Poly resort. Don't know if that was a related incident. This is so sad to hear.

 

[Purplestorm]

Heart broken. Praying!!!!
My mind won't let me comprehend this.

 

[Opie100]

Helicopter is still circling around the resort and has been since before the fireworks show. We just returned to the Poly at 10pm. I figured they were looking for someone in the water based on where the copter was shining the spotlight. During the fireworks a young adult man was being wheeled away on a stretcher through the Poly resort. Don't know if that was a related incident. This is so sad to hear.

There have been unconfirmed reports that the father attempted to fight the gator off. No idea if that's at all connected to your report.

 

[dansdad]

Yikes, so scary!!! Are gators often seen at WDW?

Yes.

Is this the first time gators have been spotted in the Seven Seas Lagoon?

Nope.

 

[Lehuaann]

Is this the first time gators have been spotted in the Seven Seas Lagoon?

I know someone saw one on the trail between FW & WL a while back, so now I get the creeps walking the trails of FW...

 

[msdaisy]

Is this the first time gators have been spotted in the Seven Seas Lagoon?

No, we have seen a gator waiting on a ferry from the grand Floridian one time when the monorail wasn't running.

 

[*DisneyDreamer]

What a sad, sad situation. How awful for the family of that child. I know it's Florida and alligators can be near or in any water, but the idea of one in the Seven Seas Lagoon has never crossed my mind.

I hope WDW will now catch and transport those gators elsewhere. I'd imagine they should take steps to search any property lake for them as well. I KNOW it's Florida, and swampland, but they have to stop this from happening again. I'm legitimately scared about my upcoming visit.

Don't let it be something that scares you or ruins the anticipation of your trip or your enjoyment while there. The situations of them posing a danger to guests are so rare. Although they have been seen in the Magic Kingdom before, I'm sure the gators would want to stay away from the masses of people.

 

[gottalovepluto]

Tragic. Gators are a way of life here in the south. I always give them a wide berth. Most people do not have any idea how fast they are.

I certainly didn't have enough respect. My goodness. I would have stood close to the water and enjoyed looking at the view without a second thought to gators. This is horrifying, that poor family.

 

[wilkeliza]

I hope WDW will now catch and transport those gators elsewhere. I'd imagine they should take steps to search any property lake for them as well. I KNOW it's Florida, and swampland, but they have to stop this from happening again. I'm legitimately scared about my upcoming visit.

They do trap and move the gators. Gators move fast so they can't possibly know when a wild gator makes it from off property to on. Could be the first time this specific gator was first spotted on property. This is a tragic incident but I know Disney does have wildlife proticals in place.

 

[Sammie]

Is this the first time gators have been spotted in the Seven Seas Lagoon?

No, we have seen gators every time we go to Disney World, every where. At every resort that has water, at every park, on the golf course. It is Florida and where there is water assume there is a gator.

 

[Opie100]

How close is this movie viewing area to the waterline?

 

[scottmik2]

Hoping this is a hoax. Reports say the father tried to wrestle the gator but still no witnesses? Seems like something someone would see right? I hope I'm right because this is terrible. Prayers for all involved.

 

[momtotnt]

Hoping this is a hoax. Reports say the father tried to wrestle the gator but still no witnesses? Seems like something someone would see right? I hope I'm right because this is terrible. Prayers for all involved.

http://www.wesh.com/news/so-child-d...r-disneys-grand-floridian-resort-spa/40058064

 

[wilkeliza]

Hoping this is a hoax. Reports say the father tried to wrestle the gator but still no witnesses? Seems like something someone would see right? I hope I'm right because this is terrible. Prayers for all involved.

Since a police department spokes person has been quoted several times by name I'm 100% sure at the very minmum a child is missing in Seven Seas Lagoon which is tragic enough.

 

[karasmom]

Hoping this is a hoax. Reports say the father tried to wrestle the gator but still no witnesses? Seems like something someone would see right? I hope I'm right because this is terrible. Prayers for all involved.

I find it strange that there are no witnesses. News said people were on beach for movie nght and EWP... So there had to be witnesses. Please let this not be a cover up by the parents when something else happened and they are trying to cover it up :/

That poor baby!

 

[kellyjeanie]

I find it strange that there are no witnesses. News said people were on beach for movie nght and EWP... So there had to be witnesses. Please let this not be a cover up by the parents when something else happened and they are trying to cover it up :/

That poor baby!

There were witnesses, there was a Twitter user who was talking to witnesses and on the DIS Facebook page there's a woman who knows someone who is there who saw it. The whole thing is just a nightmare, I can't even imagine.

 

[chloelovesdisney]

Some news stations are reporting no witnesses apparently from some guy's twitter posting rather than from an actual statement from the police or Disney.